The HASD&IC Biweekly Briefing provides timely news and information for HASD&IC members and associates and is published on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Key articles and issues of interest from each publication, along with the President’s Message, are included below.
Newsroom
5 Things To Know: San Diego County Releases Budget
San Diego County Releases 2024-26 Budget: San Diego County released its recommended 2024-26 budget on May 2, which maintains current services and funds new ones, uses data and community input gathered throughout the year, and considers equity for vulnerable populations. The budget also includes $1.1 billion in investments for behavioral health services.
5 Things To Know: Equity In Behavioral Health
SAMHSA To Host Equity In Behavioral Health Webinar: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will host a webinar on May 22 at noon (PT) to discuss how its African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence is addressing inequities at the intersection of behavioral health and justice systems. To register, visit the event web page. (A Microsoft-based email is required because the webinar is offered on the Teams platform.)
5 Things To Know: Ballot Initiative
BALLOT INITIATIVE WOULD DEDICATE MCO TAX REVENUE TO FUND MEDI-CAL: The Coalition to Protect Access to Care has submitted more than 800,000 voter signatures to qualify the Protect Access to Healthcare initiative for California’s November 2024 ballot. CHA supports the proposed ballot measure, which would permanently channel managed care organization (MCO) tax revenue to Medi-Cal providers such as hospitals, physicians, women’s health and community clinics, and health centers. To help build support, the coalition has created a toolkit, which includes a sample newsletter that can be adapted for various audiences, sample social posts and graphics, and links to fact sheets.
5 Things To Know: CARE Act Update
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CARE ACT UPDATE: The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act program began on Oct. 1, 2023, in San Diego County, one of seven pilot counties in the state. The CARE Act created a new pathway to deliver mental health and substance use services to individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders but who are not engaged in treatment. To date, San Diego County has received 106 referrals, and 34 have become actively enrolled and engaged clients.
5 Things To Know: Default Enrollment Pilot
MEDICARE MEDI-CAL PLANS – DEFAULT ENROLLMENT PILOT: This summer, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will launch a default enrollment pilot for select Medicare Medi-Cal (Medi-Medi) Plans in San Diego and San Mateo counties. Medi-Medi Plans are a type of Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that coordinates all benefits and services across both programs for dually-eligible individuals. Under the pilot, when a managed care plan (MCP) member becomes eligible for Medicare due to age or disability, they will automatically be enrolled in the Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) for that MCP, unless the member chooses a different Medicare option, such as Original Medicare or another MA plan. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services included guidance on D-SNP default enrollment in its annual MA Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance. Please contact DHCS at info@calduals.org with any questions or comments about Medi-Medi Plans
5 Things To Know: Webinar Trainings
TRAINING SET FOR CHILDREN’S PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY AND NEWBORN GATEWAY: Medi-Cal’s outreach and education team and the Department of Health Care Services will host overview trainings on Children’s Presumptive Eligibility and Newborn Gateway. The live webinar trainings will be conducted on May 29 at 10 a.m. (PT) and June 6 at 1 p.m. (PT) and will be recorded. Providers must register through the Medi‑Cal Learning Portal.
5 Things To Know: CalAIM Provider Forums
CALAIM PROVIDER FORUM MEETINGS TO BE HOSTED IN MAY: California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) provider forums are designed to give current and prospective providers of enhanced care management and community support services the opportunity to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another. Upcoming forums will be hosted for Imperial County on May 2 at 1 p.m. (PT) and San Diego County on May 9 at 11 a.m. (PT).
CHA Bill to Provide Seismic Relief Moves Forward
The California Hospital Association’s (CHA) bill to provide relief from the 2030 seismic construction mandate passed the Senate Health Committee last week on an 11-0 vote. It now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee where a hearing is set for May 6.
Media Coverage of CHA Lawsuit Extends to San Diego Region
Media coverage of the California Hospital Association (CHA) lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross includes a local print article and mentions on local radio stations.
A Shared Commitment as We Mark Mental Health Awareness Month
Today marks the first day of 2024’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when all who are committed to helping those living with mental health conditions can pause to reflect on the meaning of their work, and foster greater empathy and understanding for those in need of care.
